Author Topic: range of a crossbow (Read 1946 times)

born-to-hunt · « **on:** June 07, 2010, 05:49:55 PM »

i want to know how far some of you guys can shoot accuratly out of a crossbow i can shoot accuratly at 20yds or so but I shot a doe last year at about 40yds (that was luck ha ha) but I mostly wanted to know if i'm doing good if I can hit something at 20yds should I be able to shoot farther or is what i'm doing fine?

blhof · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2010, 04:24:40 AM »

If you took a deer at 40yds, you're doing fine depending on your bow. The average xbow is usually effective to around 30 or so yds with the high end bows going out to 75yds. The shorter power stroke and shorter arrowers result in a more rapid loss of power than the long power stroke of the long bow. Saying that I've played with shooting targets at 50 and 75yds but it's a fair arc and penetration is lacking, wouldn't do it for a deer, keep my game shots to 25yds.

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2010, 06:53:54 AM »

That 40 yard shot was a lot of luck but I practice at 20-25yds with fair enough results so I think i'm going to stick with that but I also have a pretty cheap bow it is a hortan summit 150

rickyp · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2010, 05:38:31 PM »

With the higher end bows you can streach your shots out to 45- 50 yards max and still have enough energy to kill a deer cleanly.This is with the very top of the line bows. most bows the max range shuld be 35-40.

I am shooting a tenpoint Phantom and I have the sight set for the center dot to hit about 30 yards and the bottom dot will hit about 43 yards.

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2010, 05:46:06 PM »

so killing that doe was good for a cheap bow which I have at 40yds I think i'll stick with staying at 20-25yds thats all i need really

rickyp · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2010, 03:24:04 AM »

You did not say what arrow and B.H. you are using and the weight of it.

and what is the FPS your bow is shooting?

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2010, 05:55:56 AM »

It was an Easton carbon power bolt. I don't know the weight they are 20" long and I used a RAGE broadhead to the low throat. I forget the FPS of the bow I believe about 210 or something I will have to look it up. On an unrelated topic can I get crossbow bolts refletched? because I have a couple bolts that either went too far in the target and messed up the fletching or hit a fletching while the bolt was in the target.

rickyp · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2010, 06:15:28 AM »

why do you have fletchings on your bolts?

If you are talking about your arrows then yes you can get them refletched I build my own arrows from 2216 and 2219 arrows.

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2010, 06:54:16 AM »

OK thats good because I have a few that need it when you build your own do they work any better? like reloading your own ammo

rickyp · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2010, 07:51:19 AM »

they shoot about the same. but I buy a lot of used 2219 and 2216 arrows for very little money and rebuild them.

I have over 100 arrows in my cases. I have some special arrows, some shoot and for get arrows and arrows for hunting out of tree stands. The ones for tree stand hunting are the most expesive with the lighted knocks.

The fire and forget are the 2216 and a lot less expensive B.h.

I have a few all black arrows for games

and I have some decocking arrows and some small game arrows too

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2010, 10:03:39 AM »

what is a B.H.? and also good collection of arrows

you seem like a very devoted archer

rickyp · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2010, 10:05:32 AM »

razor point

RWK · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2010, 09:18:10 AM »

Please do'nt ask for range of a crossbow, because some screw balls ( bow hunters) print that there good for a 100 yrds or more and then it becomes this evil weapon. I read that PSE x bow is a monster, well reAD ON PETE ALSO SHOOTS A 100 PLUS YARDS, WITH HIS COMPOUND. :ETS STOP ALL THIS BS. Rich

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2010, 09:22:52 AM »

yeah i'm not expecting to get even 50yds let alone 100 but I have heard PSEs TAC 15 crossbow got 2" groups at 150yds

rickyp · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2010, 12:49:51 PM »

the max range can be missleading. a 308 can shoot over 800 yards but it doesn't mean one should shot at that range on an animal

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2010, 01:56:46 PM »

Skunk · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2010, 02:15:40 PM »

Quote from: born-to-hunt on June 13, 2010, 01:56:46 PM

yeah

I'll see that "yeah," and raise you a "heck yeah."

elkstalkr · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2010, 05:36:10 PM »

Good discussion

Spirithawk · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2010, 07:41:08 AM »

I could hit consistantly at 50 yards with my old jennings Devastator 150lb, using Easton 2219's,125 gr. heads but always kept my hunting shots 40 yards and under. I now have a Horton Legend XL 175 but still intend to keep my shots at game 40 yards and under. Out to 40 yards I know I'll have a clean kill, anything over that would be maybe shots and I prefer not to take those. As stated, an arrow fired from a crossbow loses energy fast. Back when I first started hunting with a crossbow, the Devastator, I taught myself a very valuable lesson. I crested a rise out in a pasture to see two very nice 10 point bucks standing broadside at about 75 yards. Nothing between me and them at all. I loaded an arrow, took aim, and let it fly. I then watched that arrow sail directly at the buck I'd chosen. That is for about 40 yards. After that is started dropping drasticly and hit the dirt at about 65 yards. The deer just stood there looking at me as if to say, " That the best you got? " I encourage anyone who thinks crossbows are long range weapons to go out into a pasture with a friend. Stand off a bit to the side and let your friend fire an arrow from ANY crossbow. Watch the trajectory and you'll change your tune real fast. Actually, I encourage anyone to try it. It really gives you a reality check and is the best convincing argument for the 40 yard max that you'll find.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2010, 05:17:06 PM »

I keep all my shots with my crossbow under 35 yards. So should everyone else when hunting game..

Hunter2 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 26, 2010, 02:20:53 PM »

Under ideal conditions and when a deer is totally at ease, I took one last season at 43 yards right in the 10 ring. Huntr2

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #21 on:** June 26, 2010, 03:34:48 PM »

I just shot my bow the other day and I can hit a 3-4 inch group at 30yds suprised me a lot but I think thats where I stop becuase I have to adjust it to 40yds to hit consistantly at 30 with aluminum arrows but 30yds at 30yds with carbon arrows and the last thing I want to do is hit one and not kill it. just cause I thought it was neat I hit the dead center (which is about the size of a dime) twice that day

Jal5 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 28, 2010, 05:13:34 AM »

I am very confident out to 30 yds with my Horton and like to stay at that distance. Clean kill is the the most important thing to me, and most of my tree stands are set up for 30 yds. and under shots.

Joe

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #23 on:** June 30, 2010, 06:16:12 PM »

if someone really needs more than 30yds for a shot I think they need to fix something to get some closer shots and the very last thing I want to do is wound a deer.